Situation in Braithwaite grim; flooding is massive

Eastbank communities devastated by Isaac

UPDATED 12:00 AM CDT Aug 29, 2012

BRAITHWAITE, La. -

The situation was bleak in some Eastbank Plaquemines Parish neighborhoods that were inundated by water as Hurricane Isaac pushed across the region.

Officials said an 18-mile stretch of levees was overtopped by water from the Mississippi River early Wednesday. The resulting flood brought as much as 10 feet of water to residential areas, early reports indicated.

The area includes a stretch from Braithwaite to White Ditch. Those communities were under a mandatory evacuation order because of safety concerns.

Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser told WDSU that the problem was limited to overtopping, and not a breach. He described the situation as "serious."

The National Weather Service noted: "This will result in significant deep flooding in this area."

The levee is not part of the federal Corps of Engineers protection system.

WDSU reporter Travers Mackel said flood gates were closed to contain the water. He said there was concern that some people were trapped in dangerous conditions.